Acclaimed musicians Jeffrey Grossman (harpsichord), Kevin Payne (archlute), and Caroline Nicolas (viola da gamba) open the festival with an intimate program celebrating the expressive brilliance of J.S. Bach, featuring two viola da gamba sonatas alongside the monumental Suite in C Minor for lute (BWV 997) and the magnificent English Suite No. 3 (BWV 808) for keyboard. Buy tickets here or purchase a discounted pass for the entire festival.

On Saturday, October 24, world-renowned pianist Simone Dinnerstein presents an illuminating performance of J.S. Bach’s Fifteen Inventions (BWV 772–786) and Fifteen Sinfonias (BWV 787–801) — works that reveal Bach’s genius in its most intimate and inventive form. Dinnerstein has earned international acclaim for her performances of Bach and other composers. The Washington Post says, “Dinnerstein is an artist of strikingly original ideas and irrefutable integrity. These attributes, combined with elegance and grace, lend her music-making its captivating beauty.” Buy tickets here or purchase a discounted pass for the entire festival.

Bach's St. John Passion is one of the towering masterpieces of Western music, combining dramatic storytelling, profound spirituality, and extraordinary musical invention. Under the direction of Colin Mann, the Festival Chorus and Festival Ensemble are joined by acclaimed soloists Charles Blandy as the Evangelist, Will Prapestis as Jesus, Jared Swope as Pilate, Anna Bjerken as Ancilla, Owen Connolly as Servus, Mary Bonhag, Wee-Kiat Chia, Noah Horn, Gene Stenger and Will Doreza to bring this monumental work to life. Rich with expressive arias, stirring chorales, and electrifying choruses, the St. John Passion vividly portrays the final hours of Christ's life with remarkable emotional depth, making for a powerful and unforgettable conclusion to the 2026 festival. Buy tickets here or purchase a discounted pass for the entire festival.